Right hand margin adjustment feature for an automated typing system

ABSTRACT

A right hand margin adjust feature for an automated typing system for use with cassette tapes and other typing or display systems. This feature enables an automatic typing system of the class described to automatically reformat pre-recorded information according to changed margin settings of a typewriter or printing device or to compensate for words inserted or deleted in previously recorded copy. It is responsive to, and functions to edit, sentence ending punctuation, spaces, tab, hyphens, carrier returns and line returns. Carrier returns and spaces will be added or deleted automatically as dictated by their position in the original copy and by the margin settings. Carrier returns in the original material are deleted and replaced by an appropriate number of spaces until a variable character right hand margin adjust zone is reached. The feature functions at the beginning of the right hand margin zone to analyze and evaluate the remaining characters in the line. The last available interword space in the zone is deleted and replaced with a carrier return if possible. If a word extends through and beyond the variable right hand margin adjust zone, the system will stop, permitting the typist to read by character to the proper position for a hyphen. After the hyphen is typed and the carrier returned the system will continue to read and type in the automatic right hand margin adjust mode. The system will also stop for any previously recorded tab, permitting the typist to insert the tab if it is required or continue to read. Carrier returns at the end of a title, salutations, or a short line, and tabs and hyphens that will always be required may be kept by depressing a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;keep&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; key at the same time as the appropriate character key and thereafter will not be edited by the right hand margin adjust feature.

United States Patent [191 Spence et a1.

[ RIGHT HAND MARGIN ADJUSTMENT FEATURE FOR AN AUTOMATED TYPING SYSTEM [75] Inventors: Gary W. Spence, Loretto; James L.

Wienhold; Larry E. Kveberg, both of Minneapolis, all of Minn.

[73] Assignee: CPT Corporation, Hopkins, Minn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 453,363

Primary Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dorsey, Marquart, Windhorst, West and Halladay [57] ABSTRACT A right hand margin adjust feature for an automated Oct. 28, 1975 typing system 'for use with cassette tapes and other typing or display systems. This feature enables an automatic typing system of the class described to automatically reformat pre-recorded information according to changed margin settings of a typewriter or printing device or to compensate for words inserted or deleted in previously recorded copy. [t is responsive to, and functions to edit, sentence ending punctuation, spaces, tab, hyphens, carrier returns and line returns. Carrier returns and spaces will be added or deleted automatically as dictated by their position in the original copy and by the margin settings. Carrier returns in the original material are deleted and replaced by an appropriate number of spaces until a variable character right hand margin adjust zone is reached. The feature functions at the beginning of the right hand margin zone to analyze and evaluate the remaining char acters in the line. The last available interword space in the zone is deleted and replaced with a carrier return if possible. If a word extends through and beyond the variable right hand margin adjust zone, the system will stop, permitting the typist to read by character to the proper position for a hyphen. After the hyphen is typed and the carrier returned the system will continue to read and type in the automatic right hand margin adjust mode. The system will also stop for any previously recorded tab, permitting the typist to insert the tab if it is required or continue to read. Carrier returns at the end of a title, salutations, or a short line, and tabs and hyphens that will always be required may be kept by depressing a keep" key at the same time as the appropriate character key and thereafter will not be edited by the right hand margin adjust feature.

20 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures FlgJd Fig. lb

Fig. to

Fig. Id

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet7of 17 3,915,278

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheetllof 17 3,915,278

l3 E RUN RD CLK 3 RD CLK HLD CR INSERT U.S. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 12 of 17 3,915,278

GET NEXT (HRC) 9(- GET NEXT RD CLK N (HRC) TO 200 -u a ZN CTR RD CLK P I T T T0 MARGIN R S GE CTR & SET

INSERT FLAG (MOP) RD CLK OPERATOR READ END OF BEFFER FIG. 2 LINE 635 SET ADJ STOP GET NEXT ,m a STOP RECIR T0 000 U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 13 of 1? STA T SET R EADI PRINT 8| GET NEXT CLR FLGS GET NEXT (HRC) (RD CLK 3) I SET ADJ STOP Bl SET READ RECI R CLR ADJ STOP WAIT FOR OPERATOR READ SET ADJ STOP PRINT 8! GET NEXT (NOP) U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 14 of 17 -I TO MARGIN CTR GET NEXT 8 STOP CLP ADJ STOP WAIT FOR OPERATOR READ FIGJ LOAD CR CTR NOR-l LEGAL 2 LINE 423 GET NEXT (HRC) CLR ZONE INSERT EN 67 U.S. Patent TO CR CTR GET NEXT Oct. 28, 1975 HYPHEN Sheet 15 of 17 GET NEXT ,0'l

CLR HY FLG .0 5

FIG. I LINE 423 OR KEEP FLAG .05

SET PUNC PRINT 8 GET NEXT (NOP) +l TO SPACE CTR E6 PRINT 8 GET NEXT (NOP) US. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 16 of 17 3,915,278

FIGJ LINE 280 READ Y TAPE RECORD (HRC) (HRC) HOLD READ CLOCK US. Patent 0a. 28, 1975 Sheet 17 of 17 3,915,278

F SET CR 5% N CLR ZONE 8. g: (W30 ADJ STOP PRINT GET NEXT (NOP) FORCE SP SET ADJ @b g-e STOP (HRC) m GET NEXT (HRC) RIGHT HAND MARGIN ADJUSTMENT FEATURE FOR AN AUTOMATED TYPING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is designed to be utilized on an automated typing system which may consist of two functional units: l) a console which contains two magnetic tape transports, logic, power supply, and operator function keys; and (2) a typewriter which is modified with an electronic keyboard, selected heavy duty parts and additional operator function keys. Such a console is described in part in our co-pending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 427,925 filed Dec. 26, 1973 entitled Search Feature for an Automated Typing System". A typewriter with an electronic keyboard, suitable for use with our invention is described in co-pending U.S. Pat. applications Ser. Nos. 336,240 and 439,310 filed Feb. 27, 1973 and Feb. 4, I974, entitled Typewriter with Magnetic Memory and A Keyboard for an Automated Typing System, respectively.

It should be understood however that our invention may be modified or adapted for use with many typing systems or justification systems for both automated typing and visual display.

An automated typing system of the class described performs the following operational functions. Information can be printed on hard copy and recorded simulta neously on magnetic tape. Information recorded on magnetic tape can be read and printed out as hard copy. Information recorded on magnetic tape can be duplicated onto a second tape in either a print or a nonprint mode. Tape reading, skipping, or duplicating can be stopped automatically on a word, line, paragraph or page and unwanted information recorded on magnetic tape can be skipped over when the tape is being read or duplicated. In addition, information recorded on a magnetic tape may be searched for selected printing or duplicating.

The feature which is the subject of this invention adds an additional function to those described above. By adding and deleting spaces and carrier returns automatically, as dictated by the right hand margin, it enables the automated typing system to reformat prerecorded information according to changed margin settings of the typewriter or to compensate for words inserted or deleted in previously recorded copy.

In the past the right hand margin of printed copy has been adjusted in primarily two ways. Some systems read a line of prior recorded information, count the number of spaces either in the entire line or in the right margin zone, and then varying the spacing of the interword spaces so that each line reasonably extends to the right margin. Other systems or variations of the immediately above described system type into the right margin zone and perform a carrier return at the first available space or, in one system, at the first syllable break if the operator has previously broken each word into syllables. In those systems which accomplish a carrier return at the last available interword space in the right margin zone, if no spaces are detected in thezone, the printer continues to print characters until the end of the zone. If the operator then wishes to hyphenate the word the operator must extend the typing beyond the right margin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The current invention is a highly improved right hand margin adjust feature for an automated typing system which performs editing functions throughout the typed material as well as the right hand margin and is responsive to a number of special characters such as sentence ending punctuation, tabs, hyphens, and line returns in addition to spaces and carrier returnsv In addition, the final copy may be typed in either normal style or legal style upon the choice of the operator.

The majority of standard automated type systems continue to type after the bell rings indicating the right margin zone, normally set six characters prior to the right margin. A carrier return is inserted upon the occurrence of a space in the previously typed copy. If no space occurs after the bell rings, the standard typing system fills the six spaces with characters and stops. In other words, if the last six characters consist of the words I am" the standard automated typing system would carriage return after "1 instead of after am, the normal carrier return if manually typed. Alternatively, if the last word were readable", the standard automated typing system would type readab" and stop rather than read and able on the next line.

The device of the instant invention stops at the bell ring, or when the right hand margin zone is entered, and looks at the remaining characters. If two interword spaces are present, a carrier return is inserted and the machine returns on the second space. If no spaces are present, the machine stops so that the secretary can hyphenate at her choosing. Thereafter, pressing a READ key only prints one character at a time. Therefore, when the operator reaches a syllable break, the operator can hyphenate the word and return the carrier.

Provision is also made for hyphens or spaces that must be kept regardless of carrier returns such as the hyphens in second-to-the-last". In order to maintain the hyphens with a standard automated typing system the operator is required to vary the typing pattern such as space, space, character, space, space, which is called a precedence code". Applicants use a "KEEP" key which, when depressed in conjunction with the appropriate character key, keeps carrier returns, tabs, spaces, and hyphens. This is often used, for example, for carrier returns in the address portion of a letter where only a quarter of a line if normally utilized.

Similarly, if in the body of a letter which is being edited there is a sentence ending punctuation mark followed by a carrier return, the edited version must be punctuated, the carrier return must be eliminated and two spaces must be added after the punctuation mark. A variation, of course, is where an abbreviation occurs, such as Dr. Smith". In that instance, the keep key would be pressed along with the space after Dr. so that no matter where it occurs there will be the period after Dr., only one space, and then the surname following. Finally, as discussed in the edit sequences described below, the system also functions based on information such as carrier returns or spaces immediately prior to the beginning of the right margin zone, this information being retained in memory units or counters of the device.

To achieve a proper sequence the system operates on an eight phase clock. The earlier phases of the clock are used to enable the edit or adjust function and to de tect which characters occur in the right margin zone. The latter phases of the clock are utilized for resolution of the changes in the orginal typed copy which are dictated by the right hand margin adjust feature.

Logical circuitry to accomplish the function of looking forward into the right margin zone comprise a zone insert memory and various flip-flops to indicate the beginning and end of the zone. Alpha numeric characters or other typing characters are analyzed in this system with a special character decoder, which reads data bits in selectric code from a buffer, and a zone recycling counter and a zone shift register memory unit which are combined to detect the occurrence of the editable special characters. Counters and flip flops are utilized to count spaces, carriage returns, line returns and as flags for tabs, sentence ending punctuation or hyphens.

Logical circuitry is then utilized to further evaluate the contents of the zone to determine the existence of the typing pattern prior to and in the right margin zone and to provide a predetermined resolution of the typing pattern in the right margin zone. As indicated above, if a word extends completely across the right margin zone and beyond the right margin, or upon special occurrences such as tabs or underlining, because these are unique to each document and cannot be automatically edited, this invention detects such as occurrence and automatically stops the system prior to proceeding further. Thereafter, the operator may choose the appropriate action and after initiating a carrier return the automated typing system with a right hand margin adjust feature will continue to perform in an automatic mode.

After analysis of the right hand margin zone the system functions to generate or delete spaces and/or carriage returns as required by the analysis and on succeeding phases of the eight phase clock initiates the typing system to edit the copy and record the revised copy, if desired by the operator. With this feature the finished copy can be typed and recorded in either normal form such as used on business letters or in legal form such as used on agreements or briefs or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic diagram showing the electronic elements utilized in our invention for the detection of special selected characters;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the electronic elements utilized in our invention for control of the special characters detected by the circuitry in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the essential decision making steps of our right hand margin adjust feature to implement our invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A primary function of the right hand margin adjust feature is to relocate spaces and carrier returns when the margins of a previously typed and recorded document have been changed or where an insertion or a deletion has been made to previously typed and recorded copy. To accomplish this function carrier returns in the initially typed copy must be deleted and replaced with one interword space or two interword spaces depending on the immediately preceding occurrence of sentence ending punctuation or not. Carrier returns which occur after sentence ending punctuation, such as a period, a question mark, a colon, or an exclamation mark must be deleted and replaced with two interword spaces. Carrier returns which would occur between two words in a sentence or after non-sentence endingpunctuation such as a comma or semicolon must be deleted and replaced with one space.

Since tabs on a typing system will not be set to accommodate the reformated or changed copy the automated typing system stops after the occurrence of a tab in order to allow the operator to position tabular columns as desired. In addition, since the format for a legal document employs additional carrier returns, as compared to normal typing, the subject invention is adapted to produce a legal format from a rough draft copy which is typed in normal style.

To accomplish these functions, provision is made by this invention to alter the following sequences which normally occur in originally typed and recorded information. The copy is reformated in the manner indicated which is suitable for either a normal typing style or a legal typing style. In the following tables a minus sign indicates that the typing function has been deleted and a plus sign indicates that the typing function has been added.

EDIT SEQUENCES (BODY) SEQUENCE NORMAL LEGAL PUNC CR PUNC CR CR PUNC CR CR CR PUNC SP CR PUNC SP CR CR PUNC SP SP CR PUNC SP SP CR CR PUNC SP SP CR CR CR PUNC SP PUNC SP CR PUNC CR SP SP CR SP CR CR SP CR CR CR SP SP SP SP CR SP SP CR CR SP SP CR CR CR TAB TAB CR TAB CR CR TAB CR CR CR PUNC CR +SP +SP PUNC CR CR PUNC CR CR CR PUNC SP CR +SP PUNC SP CR CR PUNC SP SP CR PUNC SP SP CR CR PUNC SP SP CR CR CR PUNC SP PUNC CR +SP +SP PUNC CR CR +SP +SP PUNC CR CR CR PUNC SP CR +SP PUNC SP CR CR +SP PUNC SP SP CR PUNC SP SP CR CR PUNC SP SP CR CR CR PUNC SP TAB CR CR CR TAB CR CR CR 

1. In an automated printing system of the type having: information storage means containing coded character print commands which are to be reprinted in lines of characters having a different number of characters per line than originally recorded; input means for recording the coded character print commands on the information storage means; reading means to read the print commands from the information storage means; and printing means for reproducing character print commands stored on the information storage means the improvement comprising, in combination: means for establishing a multiple character zone prior to the end of each line of characters to be reprinted; means for detecting selected special character print commands read by the reading means; means for distinguishing special characters which are to be printed in the multiple character zone from characters which are to be printed prior to the multiple character zone comprising means to detect the beginning of the multiple character zone; first logic means responsive to the means for distinguishing characters to be printed in the zone from characters to be printed prior to the zone for selectively executing prior to the multiple character zone certain of the print commands and for generating and executing other character print commands that are different than those originally recorded; and second logic means responsive to the means for detecting the beginning of the multiple character zone for sequentially interrogating and analyzing a number of character print commands equal to the number of characters in the multiple character zone immediately prior to executing any character print commands to be printed in the multiple character zone, the second logic means being operatively connected to the first logic means so that the character print commands which are selectively executed and those which are generated and executed in the multiple character zone are determined by the second logic means whereby the information originally recorded can be printed in lines of characters which have a different number of characters per line than originally recorded.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising means for detecting the end of the multiple character zone.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting sentence-ending punctuation print commands.
 4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting hyphen print commands.
 5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting space print commands.
 6. The improvement of claim 5 further comprising means for registering the number of space print commands detected by the second logic means and wherein if one or more space print commands are detected in the multiple character zone the last occurring space print command is not executed and one or more carrier return print commands are generated and executed by the first logic means.
 7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting carrier return print commands.
 8. The improvement of claim 7 further comprising means for detecting the beginning of a new paragraph in the coded character print commands recorded on the information storage means wherein if a carrier return print command is detected which does not occur in the multiple character zone and which is not the beginning of a new paragraph the carrier return print command is not executed and one or more space print commands are generated and executed by the first logic means.
 9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein the means for detecting selected special characters further comprises means for detecting sentence-ending punctuation print commands wherein if a carrier return print command is detected immediately following the detection of a sentence-ending punctuation print command which is not the beginning of a new paragraph and which does not occur within the multiple character zone the carrier return print command is not executed and two space print commands are generated and executed by the first logic means.
 10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting tab print commands.
 11. The improvement of claim 10 further comprising inhibiting means responsive to the means for detecting tab print commands and operatively connected to the first logic means for inhibiting the first logic means from executing or generating any print commands if a tab print command is detected by the means for detecting tab print commands.
 12. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting line return print commands.
 13. The improvement of claim 12 further comprising inhibiting means responsive to the means for detecting line return print commands and operatively connected to the first logic means for inhibiting the logic means from executing or generating print commands if a line return print command is detected by the means for detecting line return print commands.
 14. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises a keep key operatively connected to the input means for recording a keep key code and keep key code detection means operatively connected to the first logic means and the second logic means for preventing the first logic means and the second logic means from selectively executing or generating and executing any of the selected special characters which are detected in conjunction with the keep key code detection means whereby any selected special character print command detected in conjunction with a keep key code is executed as originally recorded.
 15. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting space print commands and means for detecting carrier return print commands and wherein the second logic means comprises means for registering the number of space print commands and carrier return print commands which are detected by the second logic means and wherein the second logic means comprises means for causing a carrier return print command to be executed if it is detected in the multiple character zone or for causing a carrier return print command to be generated and executed and the last detected space print command not to be executed if one or more space print commands are detected but no carrier return print commands are detected by the second logic means.
 16. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the reading means comprises memory means for storing the information read from the information storage means and wherein the second loGic means comprises recirculating means connected to the memory means for recirculating the information in the memory means so that after the first interrogation of each of the characters in the multiple character zone by the second logic means each character print command is again interrogated by the reading means prior to printing and the character print commands are executed by the first logic means in accordance with logic of the second logic means.
 17. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising clocking means for establishing a multiple phase clock and wherein the character print commands recorded on the information storage means are read, detected, and selectively executed, or generated and executed sequentially on different phases of the multiple phase clock by the first and second logic means.
 18. The improvement of claim 17 further comprising means for controlling the operation of the clocking means including means for inhibiting the clocking means when special selected characters are being executed or generated and executed by the first logic means.
 19. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting selected special character print commands comprises means for detecting space print commands and means for detecting carrier return print commands and further comprising means for inhibiting the printing means if no space print commands or carrier return print commands are detected by the second logic means in the character print commands to be printed in the multiple character zone.
 20. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising switching means having two positions for varying the printing style of the information reproduced by the printing means wherein one or more carrier return print commands are executed or generated and executed to produce a normal printing style if the switching means is in one position and two or more carrier return point commands are executed or generated and executed to produce a legal printing style if the switching means is in a second position. 